Golf game receptacles



Oct. 24, 1967 E. E. ATCHISON 3,348,846

GOLF GAME RECEPTACLES Filed Aug. 21, 1964 INVENTOR. E L MEe E A TC/f/O/V BY Eon/420 0. 0 5204 U 20 TTOEfl/EY 3,348,846 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 3,348,846 GOLF GAME RECEPTACLES Elmer E. Atchison, 340 Milford Road, Orange, Calif. 92667 Filed Aug. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 391,228 1 Claim. (Cl. 273176) ABSTRACT ()F THE DEISCLOSURE A golf game in which a plurality of receptacles are placed over an area and with a golf iron a golf ball is successively struck from adjacent one receptacle into the area and then into the next receptacle. The receptacles themselves comprise a ring which defines a plane and having an opening through the top. A net is secured to the ring. A single leg is secured to the ring which leg extends at right angles with respect to the ring so that the leg can be driven into the ground to support the ring and the net in a plane above the ground substantially parallel to the ground. An indicia plate is secured to the leg, which indicia plate can indicate the size of the opening in the ring. Rings of different diameters are provided.

This invention is directed to a golf game and to the equipment utilized in playing the golf game.

The usual game of golf is one where a tee and a hole are set a considerable distance apart. The golfer drives his ball off the tee and in a series of strokes with various golf clubs finally gets the ball in the hole. A series of such tees and holes is provided. Usually there are 18 in a series, but an occasional short course has only 9 holes. It can be seen that even a 9 hole course takes a tremendous amount of room for each of the holes must be provided with a wide and individual fairway between the tee and the hole. This wide fairway is necessary because on long distances and hard strokes of the ball, the ball rarely goes in the most desirable flight to reach the hole.

Since a tremendous amount of space is needed the golf clubs at which these series of holes are located must be positioned where they can occupy much land. Furthermore, to be profitable a great number of people must use these golf club and play the course of holes each Week in order to pay for the maintenance thereof. Such golf clubs are rarely near a golf players house and thus he must travel a distance before he reaches a club and then waits his turn until he can play. Another factor of significance to the golfer is the fact that he must walk a trenmendous distance from the first tee to the last hole. Such exercise is good for most men, but if he is not careful, the golfer finds that it is too much exercise for him.

Practice golfing is also diflicult for the average golfer, for in his non-working hours the clubs are crowded so that each game tends to be a test of skill rather than an opportunity to practice. This invention is directed toward overcoming many of these difiiculties, and while it is not intended to be a substitute for the regular golf game it provides many of the thrills of golf while permitting practice which is consistent with improving ones regular game of golf.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a golf game, and the equipment associated in playing the game, which is capable of being used in small spaces and which simulates many of the characteristics of the conventional golf game.

It is another object of this invention to provide equipment for playing a game of golf, which equipment includes a plurality of receptacles, each of which is the equivalent of a regular hole in the regular golf game.

It is another object of this invention to provide a golf game which is entertaining and which provides practice which is compatible with and improves ones skill in the regular game of golf.

It is another object of this invention to provide a golf game having a plurality of receptacles supported above ground level and arranged at a comparatively close distance with respect to each other so that a golf game may be played with a chipping iron to direct the ball into the indicated one of these receptacles.

It is another object of this invention to provide receptacles of different sizes so that the difiiculty of chipping a ball therein varies between the different receptacles.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification, the claim and the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a small area showing a plurality of the receptacles of this invention arranged in a manner in which they can be used in this game of golf;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the receptacles of this invention taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and FIlIC; 3 is an isometric view of the receptacle shown in As an aid to understanding this invention it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a game of golf which employs specific equipment in its execution. This equipment comprises a plurality of receptacles spaced from each other and arranged with a top opening with a receiver positioned thereunder so that a golf ball may be chipped into the indicated one of these elevated receptacles through the top opening thereof and caught in the receiver. The receptacles are provided in different sizes of top opening so that different amounts of difiiculty are experienced in chipping the ball into the different sized top openings.

This invention will be understood in greater detail by reference to the following portion of this specification wherein the drawings are described. Referring now to FIG. 1, a space is indicated at 10 wherein the golf game of this invention can be played. This space may be a portion of a larger area, or may occupy an entire backyard or the like. Furthermore, the space 10 may be at a golf club and represent a practice and entertainment area where golfers can play while they are awaiting their turn at the main course. Arranged within the space 10, preferably at a distance from each other, are a plurality of receptacles, one of which is indicated at 12.

As is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 the receptacle 12 comprises an upper circular ring 14 made of cylindrical metallic stock or the like and defining a top opening 16. Leg 18 is secured to the ring 14 at its periphery, and extends away from the ring 14 substantially at right angles to the plane of ring 14. Leg 18 is preferably sharpened to a point 20 at its lower end to aid its being thrust into the ground 22, as is shown in FIG. 2. Secured to the side of the leg 18, away from the direction of ring 14, is indicia plate 24 for the notation of indicia thereon. As is seen in FIG. 3, the indicia plate 24 carries the numeral 1 and the numeral "4. The numeral 1 indicates that the receptacle 12 is the first in the game series, while the numeral "4 indicates a par of four. The par four means that on the average it takes the skilled golfer four strokes to get his ball into the opening 16 of the receptacle 12. Secured under the ring 14 by means of clips 26 is net 28. Net 28 has openings of sufiiciently small size that a golf ball cannot pass therethrough and serves to catch and retain a golf ball that passes through the top opening 16 in the receptacle 12.

A plurality of such receptacles 12 are shown arranged in an array suitable for playing the golf game of this invention. Any array convenient to the size of the space 10 and desirable to the players choice may be used. The distance between the place where the ball is first struck and the receptacle for which it is intended is not critical, so the array can be arranged, to the convenience of the player and the size of available space 10. As is seen in FIG. 1 the golfer starts by placing his ball on the ground at what may be considered the first tee 30. This location is not special, and any convenient location can be used. After the ball is placed, the golfer uses astandard golf iron; either a pitching iron or chipping iron is suitable. The golfer strikes the ball and intends to drive it along the path 32 to land in the receptacle 12. The receptacle 12 is of medium size, and has a par of four as has been hereinbefore mentioned and thus itis unlikely that the ball will enter the top opening 16 on the first stroke. Should the ball arrive close to the receptacle 12, the golfer moves it one club length away from the receptacle 12 so that he can take the second stroke. This is repeated until the ball enters the top opening 16 and is caught in the net 28. The golfer has counted his strokes and marks them on a suitable score card.

The golfer then places his bail on the second tee 34, adjacent the first receptacle 12, and chips it toward the second receptacle 36. The second receptacle is slightly larger and has a par of three.

After the ball is pitched into the receptacle 36, it is placed on the third tee 38 and struck toward the third receptacle 40. Third receptacle 40 is slightly smaller than receptacle 12 and thus has a par of five. The preferred top openings for the various sizes of receptacles are as follows. For a par of three,,the top opening 16 is approximately 10 inches, for a par of four the top opening 16 is approximately 8 inches and for a par of five the top opening 16 is approximately 6 inches. It is clear that various other sizes can be used, but it has been found by experimentation that these sizes are consistent with the indicated pars. Also a factor in the ease of driving a golf ball into the appropriate receptacle is the height of the ring 16 above the ground. The preferred dimension for this height is about 6 inches. In order to properly support the ring 16 at this distance above the ground, the leg 18 is preferably about 12 inches long.

The golfer successively plays, as previously indicated, sequentially to 4th receptacle 42, 5th receptacle 44, 6th receptacle 46, 7th receptacle 48, 8th receptacle 50 and finally to the 9th receptacle 52. This ends a single game, but it is clear that fewer or more receptacles can be used FIG. 1 it can be seen that receptacles 36, 44 and are of larger nature so as to have a par of three. Furthermore, receptacles 12, 42, 46 and 48 are of medium size and carry a par four, while receptacles 40 and 52 are of the smallest size and carry a pair of five. Any suitable arrangernent or assortment of sizes can be used, but it is preferable to have at least two of each size for diversity of practice and experience and in playing.

It is clear that this equipment usable in playing a simulated game of golf is susceptible to numerous modifications and changes without the exercise of the inventive faculty. For example the net 28 can be of different, or non-flexible material should such be desirable. Accordingly the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

Apparatus for playing a game of golf comprising a plurality of receptacles each of which comprises a ring defining a plane, said ring having a top opening therein, a net secured to said ring, said net depending from said ring and being adapted to retain a golf ball therein after the golf ball has passed through said top opening in said ring, a single leg secured to said ring, said leg extending at substantially right angles with respect to said plane of said ring, said leg being adapted to be driven into the ground, an indicia plate secured to said leg, the length of said leg being about twelve inches, said indicia plate carrying indicia indicating the size of said top opening in said ring,.there being at least two sizes of top openings in said plurality of receptacles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,530 9/1908 Treadwell 273l77 1,116,555 11/1914 Brewster 273l8l 1,540,350 6/1925 Longnecker 273l76 2,195,634 4/ 1940 Shelley 27318l 2,450,125 9/1948 Dunfee 273181 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

' G. J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

